Alexander J. Leaderman looks you straight in the eye, and with a deadpan expression, says: "Now I'm going tell you something that will shock you." He pauses a second or two for effect. "I want to get into every bedroom in America. Actually, I want to get into every bedroom in the world."Mr. Leaderman, a bespectacled 74-year-old with thinning gray hair and sense of humor, is quick to laugh at his play on words, which sums up the goal he has set for his East Baltimore company, Rockland Industries Inc.He is chairman of Rockland, which makes Roc-Lon brand drapery liner fabrics, including a Lights Out line that blocks sunlight and keeps bedrooms dark.

Nonprofits Carson Scholars Fund announced that Amy E. Warner was named executive director. She is responsible for management and oversight of expansion, fundraising and events planning. Maryland Credit Union Foundation appointed Kyle Swisher III as executive director of the Columbia-based foundation, which supports efforts to improve financial literacy and services to the underserved. The Columbia Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists selected Walter E. Carson as vice president and general counsel.

John "Bud" Hatfield Jr., the genial publican who can be found most days and nights in the venerable Valley Inn, remembers growing up in Brooklandville during the 1920s and 1930s, when the little Green Spring Valley village was nothing more than a tranquil spot on Falls Road."

By MARIE GULLARD and MARIE GULLARD,SPECIAL TO THE SUN | December 11, 2005

Donna Brown marvels at the view from her kitchen's large bay window. Although she lives 15 minutes from downtown Baltimore, the rolling hills, tall trees and the rippling Jones Falls beyond her outdoor deck remind her of being on vacation at Deep Creek Lake. Brown's retreat in the woods is in Baltimore County in the new development of Rockland Ridge. Here, small groupings of cluster homes dot wide streets that wind and climb upward past the main gates off Falls Road. After 10 years living in what she calls a "very formal, center hall colonial" in Homeland in North Baltimore, Brown, 60, an agent at Long & Foster's Green Spring Station office, felt it was time for a change.

By Winnie Hu and Winnie Hu,NEW YORK TIMES NEWS SERVICE | August 24, 2000

RAMAPO, N.Y. -- Upstate New Yorkers think of Rockland County as downstate, while downstate New Yorkers think of it as upstate, if they think about it at all. Many know it simply as the first rest stop after they cross the Tappan Zee Bridge: Rockland, then New Jersey. At just 176 square miles, Rockland is the smallest county in the state (after the five boroughs of New York City) and one that is often slighted because of its precarious foothold west of the Hudson River above New Jersey.

Alexander J. Leaderman looks you straight in the eye, and with a deadpan expression, says: "Now I'm going tell you something that will shock you." He pauses a second or two for effect. "I want to get into every bedroom in America. Actually, I want to get into every bedroom in the world."Mr. Leaderman, a bespectacled 74-year-old with thinning gray hair and witty sense of humor, is quick to laugh at his play on words, which sums up the goal he has set for his East Baltimore company, Rockland Industries Inc.He is chairman of Rockland, which makes Roc-Lon brand drapery liner fabrics, including a Lights Out line that blocks sunlight and keeps bedrooms dark.

The reason fewer Tennessee walking horses will grace the fields of Rockland Farm near Westminster this year has to do with farm owner Andrew J. Shaw waking up one morning in 1989 with blurred vision.Mr. Shaw, a Westminster real estate agent, and his wife, Jane, owner of Triple J & K Inc. screen printing, share a long-held interest in Tennessee walkers.Both have served on the national board of the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders and Exhibitors Association and have owned world champion horses.

GEOFFREY C. GETMAN, a resident of Rockland, Maine, died on October 6, at the age of 59. He founded the Atlantic Baking Company in Rockland a year ago. Geoff grew up in Buffalo, NY and lived in New York City, Greenwich, Ct and Baltimore, MD before opening the bakery. He is survived by his former wife, Judith Fletcher Getman, and their daughters Elizabeth and Sarah. A son, Thomas, died as a child in Vinalhaven, Maine. Geoff was the son of the late Charles W. and Virginia Henry Getman, and the brother of Susan Abernethy, Virginia Harkey and Lisa Ellis.

Classes won't begin until Monday for 108 Head Start youngsters forced to stay home after a boiler failure closed their cold classrooms at the former Elkridge Elementary School on Jan. 7.Plans to restart classes yesterday at Ellicott City's Rockland Arts Center building -- another Head Start site in a former school -- were postponed, said Dorothy L. Moore, director of the county's Community Action Council, which administers the federal preschool anti-poverty program.That...

City energy tax will drive away industrial jobs Mayor Martin O'Malley's proposal to impose a 4 percent energy tax on Baltimore City manufacturers is a short-sighted response to a crisis that has been developing for two decades ("Council moves to trim budget," June 15). The current budget shortfall is a consequence, at least in part, of the city's shrinking manufacturing base and the resulting loss of tax revenues of all types from manufacturers and wage-earners and from the reduced amount of factory wages recycled through the local economy.

Police Blotter is a sampling of crimes from police reports in Baltimore City and Baltimore County. Baltimore City Northwestern District Arrest: Alexander Lebedv, described as a 23-year-old illegal immigrant from Russia, was arrested Monday at his home in the 7200 block of Rockland Hills Drive in Baltimore County by members of the Warrant Apprehension Task Force on a charge of attempted murder in the drug-related shooting of three people Sept. 28 in the 3200 block of Woodland Ave. Central District Robbery: A 20-year-old man told police he was robbed of $2 by a gunman about 10:30 p.m. Sunday in the 1400 block of John St. Baltimore County Cockeysville Precinct Robbery: A woman, 75, was walking near her home in the first block of Rain Flower Path about 3 p.m. Monday when a man stole her purse containing a hearing aid valued at $2,500.

On October 6, 2003, GEOFFREY C. GETMAN, a resident of Rockland, Maine, died at the age of 59. He founded the Atlantic Baking Company in Rockland a year ago. Geoff grew up in Buffalo, NY and lived in New York City, Greenwich, CT, and Baltimore, MD, efore opening the bakery. He is survived by his former wife, Judith Fletcher Getman, and their daughters Elizabeth and Sarah. A son, Thomas, died as a child in Vinalhaven, Maine. Geoff was the son of the late Charles W. and Virginia Henry Getman, and the brother of Susan Abernethy, Virginia Harkey and Lisa Ellis.

On April 3, 2003, STEVEN I. HOPPERT, beloved son of Joan Greene and Glenn Hoppert. Devoted brother of Darren Hoppert. Loving grandson of Shirley and the late Harry (Junie) Lowenthal and the late Grace and Charles Hoppert Sr. Services and Interment at Baltimore Hebrew Cemetery, Berrymans Lane on Friday, April 4 at 3 P.M. In lieu of flowers contributions may be directed to Liberty Jewish Center, 7000 Rockland Hills Dr. (21209). In mourning at 3106 Northbrook Rd. (21208). Arrangements by SOL LEVINSON & BROS.

Model openRockland Square IIFeaga Custom Homes has opened a model of the Ashburn at Rockland Square in Ellicott City, where the firm is building 12 traditional homes on one-third to one-half-acre lots.Gas heat, cooking and hot water are standard in the Howard County community.Other features Feaga includes with homes at Rockland Square are two-zone heating, copper plumbing, security system and hardwood foyer floors.With 2,200 square feet and a beginning price of $239,900, the Ashburn is the smallest and least expensive house Feaga is building at Rockland Square.